The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-02
ALL FOOLS DAY.
SOME VICTIMS OF A PRACTICAL
JOKE.
"a Little Fun Now and Then Is
Relishtd by the Wisest Men,"
Except when They Are Sold.

The cod ensp and high wind OF the
past few days reminded us that
March was going out like lion" and
ne young fruit and spring chickens
might be killed. Yesterday morning,
however, opened beautiful and bright
and none enjoyed the bright rsys Of
the sun more than the letter carriers,
as they delivered the following note in
the various insurance offices OF the
city-the work of some wsg, as the
Subsequent proceedings will show.
MENPHs. March 81, 1857.
NY DEAR SIR.-Bslieying 1t to be TO
tbs interest Of our synd cate to TIA g.
act its Sou hern insurance business in
this city, / therefore AK thai you call
on me at room No. 2l4, Gayoso Hotel,
tomorrow, lst prox., az III am sharp,
with view OF discussing this ma ter,
aud, perhaps, handling our business
Your rame has been suggested to me.
Very truly, J. LEWIS, President.
Actir z on the foregoing, the several
insurance men OF the city, with few
exceptions, were promptly on hand at
the hour named, and when informed
by the clerk that the number of The
room was that occupied by the cham
bermsid they began to "smell mice"
and upon comparing notes found that
they had been "April fooled" to the
fullest extent, and the peals of laugh
ter INDUCED in by some, while others
assumed hostile position, was great
ly enjoyed by the clerk aud bystand-
ers. Scarcely had this little pleasantly
died away until III marched several
bankers oil our city, presidents and
cashiers, brought hither by the follow
ing note, which was dated same as the
one to the underwriters and written
on the note heads of the hotel:
MY DEAR SIR 80 Your bank has been
suggested to me by a number OF our
trustees as the best place TO coucen-
trate our entire business in this terri
tory. With that view would ps glad
TO have you call at ~ o'clock tomor-
row, at my room, No, 404 (there Is no |
such room In the house), Gayoto
Hotel. Please be prompt"
The above WAS signed also like the |
other and had the desired effect. In
Iced, several cashiers who found II in
10 attend, got their presi-
dents to represent them by calling
several hours in advance and leaving
\ card to the effect "that they would |
be- on hand promptly" Frank Bank.
,mith, the polite clerk Of the hotel,
'tumbled to the racket" early in the
action and humored the Joke as one
,fter the other called, until he was
confronted by the real estate men all
d airing six foot maps OF the city under
heir arms. Mistaking the maps for a
lew fashion war club, clever
FIaak was about to beat q
nasty retreat when one OF the number
hoved note under his nose In an
,xoited manner and asked to be
hown Ito the chamberma!d's room,
II course) up ere his competitors
caught on"
Our reporter, who is always ION
leck," secured the note, which for
ool impudence "takes the cake"
Here it Is:
Il am here in the interest OF the
Southern Cotton Seed Oil Company for
hs purpose OF buying ground and 10.
.ating a site for 10000 ton mill.
You have been mentioned to me az
eading real estate agent in the city.
would like to intrust my business to
our hands and pay you commission
Or same rather than so in the open
larket N. yself l would thank you,
hereiore, TO call at my room, No. 40l,
tayoso Hotel, at IL o'clock tomorrow
I'D bring a city map with you. You
ill please consider this letter strictly
Onfidential. Yours truly,
"0LIVER BLUCHER,"
Several OF those gentlemen who are
'ying a present 10 bny and sell the
1rtb, called In advance OF time and
t 60 nplimentsry notes 10 Mr.. Blu.
Il r {, he effect that they would surely
b. on time" and on time they were.
it emit giving the names OF the vic
ms Of these jokes, as we learn that a
ozan IT two ere on "still hunt" for
10 perpetIator, and il found his anat-
my will surely be perforated. We
ould say 10 all such gunners that he
II town last night TO be absent all